It isn’t easy to drag yourself out of bed each morning for a run, and even harder to resist those cupcakes your classmate brought in for her birthday. And yes, yoga classes do tend to be a little pricey. Transitioning to a health lifestyle may not be easy, bit it sure as heck isn’t impossible! Here are some tips to keep in mind when the going gets rough.

Tell your friends. Ask them (nicely) to keep you on track. It’s like running past the boys’ soccer team — you’re less likely to slack off if someone’s watching. If you want, you can even ask them to join you! Running with friends is so much more enjoyable than running by yourself, and the more you enjoy it, the easier it is!

Take baby steps. It probably isn’t a good idea to change your entire lifestyle in one go. You’ll have enough of a challenge committing to one new habit. Instead, dedicate yourself to exercising a few days per week for one or two months (that’s as long as it takes to form a new habit). Gradually, you’ll find it to be less of a struggle and you can begin forming another new habit (while maintaining the first, of course).

Go easy on yourself. You’ve heard this a zillion and a half times, but you must never forget that nobody’s perfect. Even the most dedicated of us all skip a jog and reach for the bag of chips. But while one slip-up isn’t the end of the world, it’s important that you return to your routine the very next day. The longer you stay off the wagon, the harder it is to get back on.

Find inspiration. There are tons of health and fitness Tumblrs, blogs and books out there — it’s just a matter of finding them. Reading success stories will help you remember your motivation and will help you overcome any obstacles you’ll face.